Improvement in harvesters



2 Sh'eets--Sheet 11 WA. WOOD.

Harvesters] Patented Feb. 25,1873.

AM. PHUTO-UTHGERAIHIC ca MX(0sa0m/E:s mums) 2 Sheets--Shet 2.

l W. A. WOOD,

Harvester-s.

Pa-tehted Feb. 25,1873.

Wo'iwm as UNITED) STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

WILLIAM ANSON WOOD, OF HOOSIUK'FALLS, NEWV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT m HARVESTERS- Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 136,295, dated February '25, 1873.-

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, WILLIAM ANsoN WOOD, of Hoosick Falls, county ofRensselaer, State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying' drawingmaking part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a mowingmachine embracing my improvements, Fig. 2 is a frontelevation, partly in section. Fig. .3 is a vertical longitudinalsection, and Figs. 4 and 5 are detached views of parts of the machinehereinafter described.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all thefigures.

My invention relates to a novel means for raising the vibrating frameand finger-bar connected with said frame,and for controlling the outeror divider end of the finger-bar; also, to the manner of supporting thedrivers seat, whereby it is maintained in a uniformly horizontalposition, or substantially so, when the cutter frame is vibrated; andconsists, first, in providing the heel -sh'ank or pivot of the shoe, towhich .the finger-bar is bolted, with a sheave or segment rigidlyconnected with'said shank or pivot, and connecting said sheave, by meansof a chain, with the lever and frame, either or both, as hereinafterdescribed, in such manner that the chain may be made to raise the outerend' of the finger-bar, and also to act as a stop to limit its downwardmovement in passing over dead furrows; second, in mounting theseat-standard loosely on the axle,.and connecting it, by a link, withthe tongue or tongue-plate in such manner as to remove the weight of thedriver from the tongue, and at the same time to hold the seat inauniformly horizontal position independent of the movements of the tongueand vibrating frame.

In the drawing, A A represent the drivewheels B, the axle O, the metalmain or vibrating gear and cutter-frame, made substantially rectangularin form, and provided at O with sleeve-bearin gs for the axle B, and atO O with similar bearings for the counter or bevel wheel andcrankshafts, the latter extending longitudinally of the machine,beingprovided at its forward end with a crank or crank-wheel for driving thecutters. The inner or grain side of the frame has pendent ears or lugs c0 formed upon it, to which the inner shoe D, through its rear extensionor shank D is pivoted atd d in such manner as to be free to rock or rollfreely on its longitudinal axis. The shoe D has the finger-bar bolted toit in the usual manner, and the shank or shaft D of said shoe is armedat its rear end with a pulley or segment sheave, D to which one end ofthe chainE is connected for rocking the shoe and raising or holding theI outer end of the cutting apparatus, as hereinafter explained. F is apendent bracket attached to the outer side of the frame 0, through themedium of an ear or lug, f, and through bolt, or in any other convenientmanner, so that it may be readily removed and substituted, when desired,by a shorter bracket, F, Fig. 5. The outer end of the chain E is connected to this bracket F or F, and when prop-- erly adjusted serves as astop to limit the downward movement of the outer or divider end of thecutting apparatus in passing over. dead furrows or other depressions inthe ground. G is a lever-plate, to which the lifting-lever H isconnected. This lever-plate is mounted loosely on the axle B through themedium of a sleeve, G and is provided with the grooved segment G and atthe opposite end of the sleeve G with a perforated camlever arm, Gthrough which the chain E passes. By this arrangement it will be seenthat thebackward movement of lever H serves not only to take up theslack of chain E. but

also, when desired, to rock or roll the shoe,

and thereby to raise the outer end of the cutting apparatus for passingobstructions, or for transportation, in a manner that will be readilyunderstood. When preferred, the chain E, instead of passing throughcam-arm G and being connected with the bracket F, may be connected withthe lever H through the segment Gr at g, and thus made to operate orlock the shoe in a manner similar to that above described. In thislatter arrangement the chain E passes from the segment under a pulley,I, underneath the inner-side bar of frame 0. The lever H is held at anyrequired point of adjustment by means of a rack, t, on the frame and apawl, h, attached to lever H, the

pawl being released by a thumb-lever, h, when desired. J is the tongue,and J is the tongue or pole plate pivoted at j to the frame 0 at apointin front of the axle B, and, extending in rear of said pivot, isprovided at its rear end with lugs or ears j, in which is mounted afriction-roller, K, in position to be acted upon by the cam-arm G which,when operated by the backward movement of lever H, serves to raise therear end of the tongue, and therewith, through its pivotal connection j,the forward end of frame 0 vibrating the said frame on axle B andraising the cutting apparatus. The downward movement of the forward endof the frame 0 is limited by means of a chain, L, connecting the framewith the tongue, and which may be set or adjusted, as desired. M is theseat-support consistingof a sleeve, M, through which it is mountedloosely on the axle B, and an npri ght socket piece to which thespring'seat standard N N and seat 0 are connected in any convenientmanner. The seat standard or socket M is connected by a link, P, withthe tongue J at a point over or nearly over the pivotal connection 7' ofthe pole-plate J with the'frame C, said link serving to retaintheseat-support, and the seat mounted there on in suitable position forthe support of the driver.

By this arrangement it will be seen that the seat is disconnected fromand rendered independent of the movements of the vibrating frame, andalso that the seat is made to maintain the substantially uniformhorizontal relation of the tongue without being supported thereby, thusrelieving the neck-yoke of the team of the weight of the driver.

Figure 4 represents in section my improved oil-hole cover, consisting ofthe plate Q, conforming on its inner or lower face to the shape of thebox or hearing over which it is placed, and provided on its oppositeface with a cup or socket, Q, in which is placed a spiral spring, q,surrounding the screw or bolt g, which fastens the cover to the box orframe. The spring (1 is held in place by the head of the screw or bolt,and serves to hold the cover tightly in place, but with a yieldingpressure which permits it to yield for the purpose of oiling thebearings of the shafts. When it is desired to oil said bearing a quarterturn, more or less, is given to the plate Q, so as to an cover theoil-holes 0 0, the oil applied, and the plate returned to its formerposition, where, being tightly held down by the spring q, it effectuallyprevents all access of dirt to the bearings.

111 the practical operation of the machine embracing myimprovements,above described, where it is desired that the chain E shall act simplyas a guide or stiffener to the finger-bar, or to give only a slight.lift to the outer end, I use the short bracket F, to which the chainpasses nearly horizontally across the frame of the machine, andconsequently while said chain serves effectually to limit the downwardmovement of the outer end of the cutting ap paratus in the. movement ofthe lever, as described, there is but slight deflection of the chainfrom a right line, and, therefore, but a limited degree of elevation ofthe outer end of the cutting apparatus; but where a greater elevation ofthe outer end of the cutting apparatus is desirable for any cause thelonger bracket F is employed, giving greater deflection to the chain, orthe chain is connected directly with the lever-segmentG, as described,and in either case may be so adjusted that the driver, without leavinghis seat, can raise the cutting apparatus from a horizontal or workin gposition to a vertical position for passing obstructions or fortransportation, and in this latter position the cutting apparatus may beretained by a spring-latch, R.

In the operation of thelifting devices it will be seen that in thebackward movement of the lifting-lever H, as described, the first eflectwill be the vibration of the main frame on the axle through the actionof the cam-lever G3 on the rear extension of the tongue, as explained,thereby lifting the inner end of the cutting apparatus "sufficiently topass ordinary obstructions, the lever G at the same time taking up theslack in chain E and gagging the outer end of the finger-bar. After thevi bration of the frame is efiected, as above, the form of the cam Gr issuch, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, as to permit it to pass the rollerK inthe ton gue-plate without further relative movement of the vibratingframe and tongue; and by this continued movement of the cam the chain Eis deflected and made to raise the outer end of the cutting apparatus toany desired extent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The sheave or segment D on the shoe D, in combination with the chainE extend in g horizontally or nearly-so from said sheave, and attachedto a fixed point on the frame, and operating substantially as described.

2. The lifting-lever H, provided with the cam-arm Gr operating upon therear extension of the tongue, for vibrating the frame and permitting thefurther movement of the lever independently of both frame and tongue,for

raising the outer end of the cutting apparatus, substantially asdescribed.

3. The cam G applied to the lever H, in combination with the heelextension of the tongue and the lifting-chain E, arranged and operatingsubstantially as described.

st. The seat-support, mounted loosely on the axle, and connected withthe tongue by means of the link 1, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of October,A. D. 1872.

WM.-ANSON YVOOD. Witnesses:

A. U. EDDY, FRANK W001).

